Coach Keller Family Trust
Donation protected
“Keller Family Trust”
This GoFundMe has been created to help someone who has spent his entire 16-year career as Embry-Riddle’s Assistant Basketball Coach, teaching and helping others. He now finds himself battling his toughest opponent yet - stage 4 cancer. The past 18 months have been quite the roller coaster for Coach Keller and his family, and he needs the love and support of our community to help in any way you can.
For those of you now aware of his story, it all started in May of 2019 when a routine colonoscopy reveled a large mass that had spread to his liver. Coach Keller did exactly what every player that had the privilege of playing for him would expect him to do, he met the paralyzing news head on with the competitive mindset that he would fight and win! Anyone that saw him during this battle could not truly understand what the fight was like for him or his family. The repeated lengthy surgeries, multiple chemotherapy sessions, long trips to the hospital in Miami, anticipation of results, and the anxiety of a fight for his life was emotionally draining and physically exhausting. The hard work paid off when, following an MRI, Coach Keller received the news that he was cancer free.
Unfortunately, this win was short-lived. During a “preventive” treatment in July of 2020, bloodwork revealed that cancer had returned, and Coach Keller once again finds himself fighting for his life. Despite this devastating news, Coach Keller is not hanging his head or giving up. He told us that “there was nothing to do but gear up and continue the fight.” As we can all imagine, the financial impact of fighting this disease can be extremely challenging. While the Keller family does have Health Insurance through the University assisting with many of the related expenses, over the last 18 months he has accumulated a staggering amount of additional medical bills that unfortunately are not covered. Out-of-pocket expenses for checkups, treatments, scans and surgeries, to name a few. To make things worse, Covid-19 has cancelled all the camps and clinics, which were relied upon streams of income for the family.
Despite all of the challenges he has faced lately, Coach Keller has never once asked for assistance financially, although it is much needed. The “Keller Trust Fund” was recently established to help raise money to help keep the family afloat during these challenging times and, although he was hesitant to accept help, Coach Keller is extremely appreciative of all the love and support he and his family have received, and continue to receive, during these difficult times.
Coach Keller has given so much to Embry-Riddle and to our local community, and if you are able to, we ask that you show your love, support and gratitude to him in any way that you can. Please share this with your friends and broader network, as every contribution is welcomed and deeply appreciated.
A note from Coach Keller:
“Faith, Family, Friends. I’ve learned much more about all these as I’ve fought this battle. I’ve grown closer to God, and my faith has strengthened me daily. My children and my fiancé Gwynne, who I met two weeks before the initial diagnosis, have been a rock of support. I’ve been happier and calm, even through the scariest times, because of the love and support of friends. How this all turns out is in God’s hands, but I’ll be fighting as hard as possible to be a survivor."
This GoFundMe has been created to help someone who has spent his entire 16-year career as Embry-Riddle’s Assistant Basketball Coach, teaching and helping others. He now finds himself battling his toughest opponent yet - stage 4 cancer. The past 18 months have been quite the roller coaster for Coach Keller and his family, and he needs the love and support of our community to help in any way you can.
For those of you now aware of his story, it all started in May of 2019 when a routine colonoscopy reveled a large mass that had spread to his liver. Coach Keller did exactly what every player that had the privilege of playing for him would expect him to do, he met the paralyzing news head on with the competitive mindset that he would fight and win! Anyone that saw him during this battle could not truly understand what the fight was like for him or his family. The repeated lengthy surgeries, multiple chemotherapy sessions, long trips to the hospital in Miami, anticipation of results, and the anxiety of a fight for his life was emotionally draining and physically exhausting. The hard work paid off when, following an MRI, Coach Keller received the news that he was cancer free.
Unfortunately, this win was short-lived. During a “preventive” treatment in July of 2020, bloodwork revealed that cancer had returned, and Coach Keller once again finds himself fighting for his life. Despite this devastating news, Coach Keller is not hanging his head or giving up. He told us that “there was nothing to do but gear up and continue the fight.” As we can all imagine, the financial impact of fighting this disease can be extremely challenging. While the Keller family does have Health Insurance through the University assisting with many of the related expenses, over the last 18 months he has accumulated a staggering amount of additional medical bills that unfortunately are not covered. Out-of-pocket expenses for checkups, treatments, scans and surgeries, to name a few. To make things worse, Covid-19 has cancelled all the camps and clinics, which were relied upon streams of income for the family.
Despite all of the challenges he has faced lately, Coach Keller has never once asked for assistance financially, although it is much needed. The “Keller Trust Fund” was recently established to help raise money to help keep the family afloat during these challenging times and, although he was hesitant to accept help, Coach Keller is extremely appreciative of all the love and support he and his family have received, and continue to receive, during these difficult times.
Coach Keller has given so much to Embry-Riddle and to our local community, and if you are able to, we ask that you show your love, support and gratitude to him in any way that you can. Please share this with your friends and broader network, as every contribution is welcomed and deeply appreciated.
A note from Coach Keller:
“Faith, Family, Friends. I’ve learned much more about all these as I’ve fought this battle. I’ve grown closer to God, and my faith has strengthened me daily. My children and my fiancé Gwynne, who I met two weeks before the initial diagnosis, have been a rock of support. I’ve been happier and calm, even through the scariest times, because of the love and support of friends. How this all turns out is in God’s hands, but I’ll be fighting as hard as possible to be a survivor."
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Pyle
Organizer
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Chad Keller
Beneficiary
